Grill-carried door



Jan. 28, 1964 F. w. BELLER GRILL-CARRIED DOOR Filed July 9, 1962 StatesIn charcoal fired grills for outdoor cooking, it is desirable to havethe height of the grill above the charcoals adjustable. It is alsodesirable to have the fire or glowing charcoals enclosed or shielded onall sides. This is particularly true in public parks and recreationareas Where the stove may be left unattended after use. If a Wind comesup, it could fan the coals and start a blaze, and if "any burnable trashhas been inserted under the grill of the stove by neat picnickers, itmay be set afire and blown oil conceivably starting a brush fire' orforest fire.

The enclosing of the coals when the grill is adjustable in heightpresents a problem. Cooks do not like obstructions extending above thegrill between themselves and the grill. Also, if the grill is madenonremovable for protection against vandalism, there must be noremovable parts, and yet access to the firebox from one side isnecessary.

The present invention solves the various problems by providing a doorpermanently hinged at its top to the structure of the adjustable grilland extending low enough to shield and enclose the coals even in thegrills highest position. When the grill is lowered, the door is loweredwith it and hangs harmlessly below the bottom of the firebox. In allpositions the door rests on the bottom pan (or side flange 14-) so itcannot swing in too far. It is also prevented from being swung open sofar it will not swing closed by gravity.

Additional objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription and from the drawings.

Designation of Figures FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a form of theinvention chosen for illustration.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately along the line3-3 of FIG. 2.

Background Description Although the following disclosure offered forpublic dissemination is detailed to ensure adequacy and aidunderstanding, this is not intended to prejudice that purpose of apatent which is to cover each new inventive concept therein no matterhow others may later disguise it by variations in form or additions orfurther improve ments. The claims at the end hereof are intended as thechief aid toward this purpose, as it is these that meet the requirementof pointing out the parts, improvements, or combinations in which theinventive concepts are found.

In its preferred form, the outdoor stove of this invention is made ofgenerally rectangular form from heavy sheet metal or plate. It includesa bottom panel 11, end panels 12, and rear panel 13. The end and rearpanels 12 and 13 are rigid with one another and with the bottom panel11. For example, end wall 12 may be molded from the same strip 'as rearwall 13 and the three welded to bottom panel 11. Bottom panel 11preferably has a forward flange 14 which holds the charco als or otherfire on the panel or fire holder 11 without making it too difficult toclean out the ashes.

A cooking rack or grill 21 occupies substantially the entire crosssection. In the illustrated form it includes a rib section 22 and a hotplate section 23.

Handles 24 extend through end wall 12. These handles atent are ofU-sh-ape including legs 26 and base 27. The base 27 is spaced outwardlyfrom the end walls 12 to be easily grasped by the hand. The legs 26 mayconveniently be extensions from two of the parallel grid bars of grid22.

The handles 24- extend through slots 31 in the two end walls. As clearlyseen in FIG. 1, these slots are generally vertically disposed but arenotched to hold the cooking rack 21 at diiferent levels. Preferably thenotches slant as shown, to substantially eliminate the danger ofaccidental displacement. Nevertheless the elevation of the rack is veryeasily adjusted by merely grasping both of the handles 24 and raisingthe rack or lowering the rack to a different notch.

During manufacture, the notches 31 are simply open at their top. Inother words, they extend all the way to the top of the end Wall 12. Thevarious legs 26 are simply fitted into them as the rack 21 is loweredinto place. Thereafter, retaining bars 33 are welded to the end walls 12and positively prevent the removal of cooking rack 21. This welding maybe spot welding, and preferably includes welding points close to eachside of both of the slots 31. This sufficiently reinforces the slottedend walls 12. Of course, other means of making the grill nonremovablecould be used. Although nonremovability is not necessary for home use,it is important for public places, such as parks and picnic grounds.

Although the outdoor stove or brazier of this invention may be supportedin any way, a tamper resistant swivel is preferred, such as that in myprior application Serial No. 7,714, filed February 9, 1960, now PatentNo. 3,053,245.

According to the present invention, a door 51 is hinged permanently to afront bar 52 of the structure of grill 21, normally hanging nearly'straight downwardly from it. The iront bar 52 could be a bar forming thegrill surface, if hot plate 23 is not in the way. The permanent securingmay be by hinge members 53 surrounding the wire or rod 52 and welded tothe door 51. Hinge members 53 are shown as tubes, but straps could beused. Thus, the door is permanently hinged to the grill, which in turnis irremovable, though adjustable.

As grill 21 is adjusted, door 51 is raised or lowered with the grill. Atall heights, it adequately closes in or shields the main fire or coals,and the entire space below the grill. Yet when the grill is raised, andthe door swung up, ashes or residue may easily be removed and newcharcoal inserted. The hot plate 23 (or other stop means, if the hotplate is not used) prevents the door from being raised so far it willnot fall back by gravity to the closed position.

A handle 56 may be provided, preferably a simple hinged ring as shown,preferably spaced from door 51 by post 57.

The resulting stove, although neat in appearance, economical tomanufacture, and adequately adjustable, is exceptionally safe. A door isprovided to enclose the firebox on its fourth side, yet it need never bein the Way. There is no loose part readily removed. The grill or cookingrack cannot be removed without severing the metal, even though it isfully' adjustable with great ease. The door 51 moves automatically withthe grill and can be swung up for access, and yet cannot be removed.

I claim:

1. A vandal resistant brazier including a pan-shaped portion forming afire space for holding burning coals, walls extending upwardly from theside and rear walls of the pan-shaped portion, and forming three sidesof a four sided enclosure, a cooking rack positioned within theenclosure and adjustable as to height therein, and a door forming thefourth side of said enclosure and permanently hinged to the cooking rackto hang therefrom and shield the fire space except when swung open foraccess there-to,

said hnazier including stop means effective in all positions of the rackfor limiting the closing movement of the door so it cannot swinginwardly to expose the fire space.

2. A vandal resistant brazier including a pan-shaped portion forming afire space for holding burning coals, walls extending upwardly from theside and rear Walls of the pan-shaped pocntion, and [forming three sidesof a four sided enclosure, a cooking rack positioned Within theenclosure and adjustable as to height therein, and a door forming thedourth side of said enclosure and permanently hingtd to the cooking rackto hang therefrom and shield the fire space except when swung open foraccess 4 thereto, said brazier including stop means effective in allpositions of the rack for limiting the closing movement of the door soit cannot swing inwardly to expose the fire space and stop means forpreventing the door from swinging open too far to close itself bygravity.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,608,180 Winning et a1 Aug. 26, 1952 2,789,996 Rumsey Apr. 9, 19573,060,918 Meyer Oct. 30 1962 3,070,084 Gier Dec. 25, 1962

1. A VANDAL RESISTANT BRAZIER INCLUDING A PAN-SHAPED PORTION FORMING AFIRE SPACE FOR HOLDING BURNING COALS, WALLS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THESIDE AND REAR WALLS OF THE PAN-SHAPED PORTION, AND FORMING THREE SIDESOF A FOUR SIDED ENCLOSURE, A COOKING RACK POSITIONED WITHIN THEENCLOSURE AND ADJUSTABLE AS TO HEIGHT THEREIN, AND A DOOR FORMING THEFOURTH SIDE OF SAID ENCLOSURE AND PERMANENTLY